Delivery mechanism for vending beverage in cups



Dec. 20, 1955 J. J. BOOTH 2,727,667

DELIVERY MECHANISM FOR VENDING BEVERAGE IN CUPS Filed Dec. 15, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet l lw W m N l m" 14 m7 INVENTOR ATTORNEY J. J. BOOTH Dec. 20, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec.

W 0 9 wm lm n m ATTORNEY DELIVERY MECHANISM FOR VENDING BEVERAGE-IN CUPS J. J. BOOTH Dec. 20, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec.

INVENTOR ATTORNEY Jack J Beef/7 tion.

DELIVERY MECHANISM FOR VENDING BEVERAGE IN CUPS This invention relates to timing devices and more particularly to a timing device for a drink vending machine.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending applications, Serial Numbers 230,779 and 278,721, filed June 9, 1951, and March 26, 1953, respectively. The machine described in the application Serial Number 230,779 includes a source of carbon dioxide under pressure, a .syrup container, and a refrigerated carbonator, thec arbon dioxide forcing carbonated water and syrup to a mixing and dispensing valve. A timing device is employed which opens the valve for a predetermined period of time during each dispensing operation. The

present invention relates to a new and improved form of the timing device and lockout mechanism. It is desirable that the timing device be simple in form and operation in order that wear of moving parts he reduced thus reducing maintenance and repair servicing.

It is the principal object of the invention to provide a new and improved timing device.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a new and improved timing device for holding a valve open for a predetermined period of time in each cycle of opera- Yet another object of the invention is to provide mechanism operating in conjunction with the timing device for releasing cups from the cup dispenser, and a lockout plunger for holding the actuating handle against movement during the drawing of a drink from the machine.

Briefly stated, the new and improved timing device may,

be used in a drink dispensing machine in which syrup and carbonated water are mixed in a mixing and dispensing valve' and then discharged into an open cup. Moreover,

this timing device is also used in a machine for vending a pro-carbonated beverage which is transferred from a drumv or drums to a delivery valve through a heat exchanger employed to move the actuating lever to actuating positionand hold it in the actuated position for a predetermined period of time each time a manually operated handle is turned includes a dash pot assembly having a reciprocable rod which is pulled outwardly from the dash pot each time the handle is operated. The reciprocable rod moves inwardly at a speed determined by the dash pot after it is released for return movement. The rod is provided with gear teeth which mesh with pinion gear to which is secured a cam which contacts and moves the actuating lever to actuated position. The structural and operational relationship between the cam and the rod is such that the actuating lever is held in actuated position only while the rod is in a predetermined portion of its return movement. The cup releasing mechanism is actuated by the manually operated handle and the mechanism, in turn, .actuates the timing device.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following description taken in connec- United States Patent 2,727,667 Patented Dec. 20, 1955 pointed out in the appended claims.

.In the drawing,

7 Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a drink dispensing machine, with its front door open, provided with the new and improved timing device;

. Figure .2is a sectional top plan view of the mechanical linkage connecting the manually operatedhandle to the toothed rod of the dash pot;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the dash pot and the mixing and dispensing valve with some parts shown in section;

Figure 4 is a sectional view of the mixing and dispensing valve taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is .a sectional view taken on the line 66 of Figure .5;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary view showing the cam and the valve actuating lever in one operative position;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary side view showing the cam and the valve actuating lever in another operative position, and. t

Figure 9 is a detail view on a larger scale showing a pawl employed in the mechanical linkage between the operating handle and the dash pot.

- Referring now to the drawing, the timing device 10 is illustrated as used with the drink dispensing machine 11 described and claimed in my co-pen-ding application 230,779. The drink dispensing machine includes an insulated cabinet 12 having a front door 13 extending across the entire width of the cabinet and mounted on the cabinet by hinges 14. The door 13 has a central opening closed by a panel 15 which is mounted on the door by a hinge 16. The panel 15 has a coil slot, not shown, through whichcoins may beinserted to operate a conventional coin actuated mechanism 17 having an operating shaft 18 which can be rotated through ninety degrees by means of a handle 19 each time .a coin is inserted into the coin operated mechanism 17. A linking mechanism 20 connects the operating shaft 18 to a cup dispensing mechanism 21 which drops the lowermost cup from a vertical stack .of cups stored in an appropriate space or magazine 22 in the door onto a platform 23 which is accessible to the customer through a suitable aperture, not shown, in the panel 15.

The operating shaft 18 is also connected to the timing device 1'0. which holds open a mixing and dispensing valve 24 (Figure 6) for a predetermined length of time to de liver a predetermined, quantity of a mixture of cooled carbonated water and cooled syrup to the cup 25 droppedonto the platform 23. The carbonated water is supplied to the valve 24 from a carbonator 26 and the syrup is supplied to the valve from a syrup tank 27. The carbonator and the syrup tank are disposed on suitable ledges 28 and 29., respectively, provided in the cabinet 12 and are supplied with carbon dioxide from a bottle 30 also disposed on the ledge 28. The carbon dioxide maintains the Water in the carbonator 26 and the syrup in tank 27 under pressure so that the water and syrup will be forced through the mixing and dispensing valve 24 and the nozzle 31 whenever the valve is opened.

The water from the carbonator 26 and the syrup from the, syrup tank 27 are delivered to the mixing and dispensing valve 24 through the conduits 32 and 33 which are connected to the nipples 34 and 35 threaded in the bores 36 and 37, respectively, of the valve body 38. The bore 37 communicates with the bore 36 which is enlarged to form a valve chamber 39. A further enlargement provides a recess 40 which receives the reduced end 41 of an abutting body 42 which is rigidly secured to the valve body by screws 43 and 44. The reduced end is also provided with a recess 45, which receives a gasket 46 which serves as a valve seat for the ball valve 47. The ball valve is biased toward the gasket by a spring 48. The abutting body 42 is also provided with a bore 49 which is enlarged at one end to form a concave recess 50 into which may project a portion of the ball valve. An off set bore 51 in the abutting body communicates with the concave recess. The reduced end 52 of the nozzle 31 is press fitted into the offset bore. A reciprocable rod 53 is slidingly disposed in the bore 49 with its inner end abutting the ball valve 47 and its outer end projecting beyond the abutting body. The rod 53 when moved inwardly displaces the ball valve from the gasket and allows fluid to pass from the chamber 39 to the offset bore 51 and thence through the nozzle 31 into a cup or other receptacle. The valve body 38 is rigidly secured to a lanced out supporting lug 54 by screws 55. The bodies 38 and 42 are preferably made of a transparent plastic.

Since both the water in the carbonator 26 and the syrup in tank 27 are kept under substantially constant pressure, the amount of the mixed drink allowed to flow out of the nozzle 31 each time the rod 53 is reciprocated depends on the length of time the ball valve 47 is held open. The proportion of syrup to water in the mixed drink is regulated by a needle valve 56 whose inner end projects into the bore 37 through which the syrup flows.

The length of time the ball valve is held in open position each time the operating handle is actuated is controlled by the timing device which includes a dash pot assmebly 57 having a reciprocable rod 58 provided with gear teeth 59. The gear teeth 59 mesh with a pinion gear 60 provided with a cam assembly 61 (Figure 6). Each time the rod 58 is reciprocated, the cam assembly is rotated and engages an actuating lever 62 and causes it to move the reciprocable rod 49 inwardly to open the ball valve 47 and hold it open for a predetermined period of time.

The valve actuating lever 62 is disposed in a slot 63 in the abutting body 42 and is pivotally mounted by means of a transverse pin 64 which extends through the slot. A leaf spring 65 is secured to the lower end of the valve actuating lever by a screw 66 and its upper end contacts the projecting end of the reciprocating rod 53. The leaf spring 65 serves to open the ball valve with a snap action. The closing pressure of the liquid in the chamber 39 on the ball valve 47 is greatest when the ball valve is closed so that when the valve actuated lever is pivoted toward the reciprocating rod 53, the spring 65 yields as its free upper end contacts the outer end of the reciprocating rod. The spring continues to bend due to the liquid pressure resistance of substantially pounds holding the ball on its seat and until the free end of the spring 65, which is curved toward the lever 62, is engaged by the lever which latter then takes over and exerts a positive force on the rod 53 suflicient to overcome liquid pressure against the ball 47 to release the same from its seat. This slight opening causes the closing force of the liquid pressure to decrease sufliciently that the spring 65 snaps the ball valve open. Snap opening of the ball valve is essential since the carbonated mixture tends to form foam as it flows past small openings such as that formed by the slow opening of the ball valve.

The slot 63 is closed by a spring member 66a which is held in place by the screws 43 and 44. The spring member has an extension or leaf spring 67 which contacts the upper end of the valve actuating rod 62 to limit its outward pivotal movement. The upper end of the actuating rod 62 is cut away at a bias to form the in-' clined surface 68. The upper end of the actuating rod is contacted by the cam assembly 61 each time the rod 58 is actuated and is pivoted thereby first outwardly as shown in Figure 7 and then inwardly as shown in Figure 8.

The cam assembly includes a fixed cam member 69 rigidly secured to the sleeve extension 70 of the pinion gear 60 and a movable cam member 71 which may be held in any desired position on the sleeve extension by the set screw 72, which extends into the cam member 69 through an arcuate slot 72a in the cam member 71 The outer arcuate surfaces of the cam members 69 and 71 are of the same radius and, therefore, lie in the same cylindrical plane. The pinion gear 60, and its sleeve extension 70, is rotatably mounted on a pin 73 which is journaled in a lanced out supporting plate 74. The pin is held in place by screws 75 threaded into the end of the pin 73 (Figure 6).

A grooved roller 77 is rotatably mounted on the supporting plate 74 by means of a post 78 having a reduced threaded end 79 which extends through a suitable aperture in the plate 74. A washer 80 and nut 81 on the end 79 hold the post in place. The roller 77 servesto support the rod 58 as it is reciprocated.

The rod 58 is caused to move inwardly, or to the left as seen in Figure 3, by the strong spring 82 disposed between the plug 83 closing one end of the cylindrical shell 84 of the dash pot assembly 57 and the piston 85 rigidly secured to the inner end of the rod 58. An annular packing 86 abuts the piston 85 and is held securely between the piston and a retaining member 87 which is threaded in a suitable bore 88 in the inner end of the rod 58. The retaining member has a central bore 89 which communicates with the bore 88 in order that the fluid in the dash pot may pass from one side of the piston to the other through the bores 89 and 88 and the transverse bore 90 which communicates with the bore 8. The packing 86 has an outwardly extending annular flange 91 which engages the interior surface of the cylindrical shell 84. The plug 83 has a threaded flange 91a which engages the threaded end 92 of the cylindrical shell and a flange 93 which holds a gasket 94 against the end of the cylindrical shell to seal against fluid leakage. A gland nut 95 threaded in an enlarged portion of the central bore of the stopper 83 compresses a packing 96 to seal against fluid leakage between the plug 83 and the rod 58. The opposite end of the cylindrical shell 84 is closed by an annular member 97 secured to the shell by welding, soldering or in any other conventional manner. The dash pot assembly is secured to a lug 98 lanced out of a main supporting plate 98a by a screw 99 which extends into a suitably threaded bore in the annular member 97.

The cylindrical shell is filled with a non-compressible fluid such as that employed in hydraulic brake systems. The rod 58 can be moved readily against the resistance of the spring 82 since the outwardly extending flange 91 of the packing 86 will flex inwardly and allow fluid to move past it and the shell 84 as the piston 85 is moved to the right (Figure 3). Fluid will also pass through the bores 90, 88 and 89. When the rod 58 is released to move inwardly under the force exerted by the spring 82, however, the outwardly extending flange 91 will prevent passage of fluid between it and the cylindrical shell. The speed of inward movement of the rod 58 will therefore depend on the size of orifices of the bores 90, 88 and 89 since the liquid in the cylindrical shell must move from one side of the piston to the other to allow the piston to move toward the annular member 97 This is the conventional manner of operation of dash pots and will not, therefore, be dwelt on further.

As the rod 58 is moved to the right, its teeth cause the pinion gear to rotate counter-clockwise, as seen in Figure 3, and the cam member 69 will contact the surface 68 of the actuating lever 62 and will move it to the right, the leaf spring 67 yielding to allow this pivotal movement of the actuating member. The actuating lever is then held in the position shown in Figure 7 until the cam members 69 and 71 are rotated to a position such that the end 100 of the cam member 71 is moved past the actuating lever. The leaf spring 67 will then move the actuating lever back to the position shown in Figure 3. When the rod 58 is next released for return movement, the end 100 will contact the outer side of theactuating lever and will move it toward the rod 53. After the end 100 moves past the actuating lever, it will be held in the position shown in Figure 8 by the arcuate outer surfaces of the cam members until the end 101 of the cam member 69 moves past the upper end of the actuating lever. The actuating lever will then be free to return to the position shown in Figure 3. The spring 43 and the pressure of the fiuid will close the ball valve when the actuating lever is freed to move to its inoperative position.

It will be apparent that the speed of rotation of the pinion gear 60 and therefore of the cam assembly 61, during return or inward movement of the rod 58 is predetermined and held constant by the dash pot. The length of time the actuating lever is held in valve open-- ing position is therefore determined by the degree of alignment of the movable cam member '71 with respect to the fixed cam member 69. If the cam members are perfectly aligned so that ends 100 and 102 and the ends 101 and 103 are in line, the actuating lever will be held in valve opening position for a short period of time during each reciprocation of the rod 58. Conversely, if the movable cam member 71 is rotated on the sleeve extension 70 to a position wherein the end 196 is spaced from the end 102, the actuating lever will be held in valve opening position for a long period of time during each reciprocation of the rod 58. It will be apparent, therefore, that the amount of the mixed drink dispensed during each reciprocation of the rod 58 can be regulated by adjustment of the position of the movable cam member 71 with respect to the fixed cam member 69.

The rod 58 is moved outwardly by the linking mechanism each time the handle 19 is actuated after the deposition of a coin in the coin operated mechanism 17. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the sup porting lug 54 is lanced out of the main supporting plate 93a on the inside of the cabinet door 15 so that the nozzle 31 projects through the aperture 164 in the plate 93a which registers with an opening, not shown, in the rear panel 106 immediately to the rear of the platform 23 on which cupsare dispensed to receive the drink delivered through the nozzle. The rod 58 is provided with a block 107 secured at one end to the lower threaded end of the rod by a nut 1118 to extend laterally toward the main supporting plate 98a. The block 107 is rigidly secured at its opposite end to the upper end of a rod 109 which extends slidably through a bore in a bearing block 110 mounted on the plate 98a by means of screws 111. A draw shaft finger 112 is secured to the end of the rod 169 remote from the block 107. A biasing spring 113 is disposed about the rod 109 and its ends bear against the block 107 and the bearing block 110 to bias the block 107 away from the block 110.

The upper end of the draw shaft finger 112 projects above the bearing block 110 into the arcuate path of travel of the pins 114, 115, 1 16 and 117 projecting perpendicularly from the gear 118 rotatably mounted on the operating shaft 18 so that when the gear is rotated in the indicated direction, one of the pins 114 to 117 engages the upper end of the draw shaft finger 112 and moves the rod 109 downward against the resistance of the spring 113 and of the dash pot spring 82. The resistance of the dash pot spring must be overcome since the block 107 is connected to and will pull outwardly the rod 58. When the gear 118 is rotated through ninety degrees, the pin engaging the draw shaft finger 112 will first engage the finger as it moves downwardly in its arcuate path of travel and will move it downwardly. Then the pin will begin to move upwardly as it follows its arcuate path of travel and will disengage from the finger 112, freeing the rod 109 for upward movement.

This in turn will allow the rod 58 to move inwardly under the force exerted by the spring 82 of the dash pot. The gear 118 is prevented from rotating clockwise by a ratchet arm 118a attached to the plate 98a by a screw 118k (Figure 3) and which projects into the path of travel of the teeth of the gear so that the pin 115 will then be in the position held by the pin 117 before the gear 118 was rotated 90 degrees.

The gear 118 is rotated 90 degrees each time the operating handle 19 is actuated by a pawl 119 slidably mounted in a bore 121) in a block 121 which is rigidly mounted on the operating shaft 18 by a pin 122. A spring 123 in bore biases the slidable pawl 119 outwardly. A pin 124 extending through the block 121 passes through a recess cut in one side of the pawl 119. The pin 124 limits the longitudinal movement of the pawl out of the bore 120 and also prevents rotary movement of the pawl. The pawl 119 must not be permitted to rotate since the top portion thereof which is cut at a bias, as at 125, must be maintained in the position shown in Figure 9 so that the pawl will be urged downwardly by and pass beneath whichever pin 114-117 is in its path when the operating shaft 18 rotates in a clockwise manner as seen in Figure 9. As has been mentioned above, the coin operated mechanism 17 permits the operating shaft 18 to rotate through only 90 degrees counter-clockwise (Figure 9) when the operating handle is actuated. During this counter-clockwise movement the pawl 119 engages one of the pins 114 117, say pin 114, and moves it counterclockwise. The next pin 115 will, during this movement, engage the draw shaft finger 112 and move it to move outwardly the rod 58 of the dash pot 84 and then release it'as the limit of rotary movement of the operating shaft 18 is reached. When the handle 19 is released, the operating shaft will be free to move clockwise back to its original position. But before it can reach its original position the pawl 119 must move past the pin 115 which was moved into its path of travel and now occupies the position formerly occupied by the pin 114. As the pawl 119 reaches the pin 115, its bias cut portion 125 connects the pin 115 which cams the pawl 119 downwardly against the resistance of the spring 123. This enables the pawl 119 to move past the pin 115 and, once it moves past the pin 115, the spring 123 will move it outwardly so that when the operating handle 19 is again actuated, the pawl 119 will 'contact the pm 115 and thus rotate the gear 118 another 90 degrees in a counter-clockwise manner.

It is desirable to lock the whole mechanism if the rod 109 and the draw shaft finger 112 have not come back to the :positions shown in Figure 3 after a drink has been dispensed, for one reason or another, such as the deposit of another coin in the coin operated mechanism while the preceding drink dispensing cycle has not terminated. This is accomplished by the slidable lockout plunger 126 which is slidably disposed in a bore 127 in the block 110 and biased outwardly against the finger 112 by a spring 128. A pin 129 mounted in the block 110 extends through a portion of an annular recess 130 in the lockout plunger 126 to limit the outward movement of the plunger. The front portion 131 of the lockout plunger tapers inwardly to form a cone so that when the stop finger 112 is flush against the bearing block 110, one of the operating pins 114117 which is adjacent the finger 112 will travel past the conical portion 131 and be allowed to engage the finger 112. If, however, the finger is positioned far from the block 110, the operating pin will abut the main portion of the lockout plunger which will prevent further counter-clockwise movement of the gear 118. The dispensing mechanism will now be inoperative until this condition is corrected by return of the draw shaft finger 112 to the position shown in Figure 3.

The cup dispensing mechanism is fully described and claimed in my co-pending application Serial Number 475,395 filed December 15, 1954, and will not be described in detail herein. However, in order to disclose the relationship between the present invention and the cup vending mechanism, it is pointed out in Figure 2 that the latter includes a stationary plate 132 which has circular apertures 133 and 134 in which are disposed respectively cylinders 135 and 136 which are adapted to receive stacks of paper cups.

Below the plate 132 is a slidable plate 137, longitudinal reciprocation of which releases cups alternately from their respective cylinders 135 and 136 into the receiving position as shown in Figure 1.

In order to cause the slidable plate 137 to be moved from one extreme position to the other each time the operating handle 19 is actuated, a gear 138 is rotatably mounted on the plate 98a by means of a bolt 139 which is provided with a tubular spacer 140 to keep the gear 138 properly spaced from the plate 98a. The gear 138 is in mesh with the gear 118 and makes a one-half revolution each time the gear 118 is rotated 90 degrees. The gear 138 has a bolt 141 which extends through a slot 142 provided in one end of a lever 143 which is pivotally mounted on the plate 98a by a bolt 144 provided with a tubular spacer 145. The other end of the lever 143 is pivotally secured to one end of a link 146 by a bolt 147. The other end of link 146 is secured to the slidable plate 137 by a bolt 148. Sutlicient play is provided between the various parts connecting the gear 138 to the bottom plate 137 to prevent any binding due to the normal slight vertical displacement of the link 146 due to the normal arcuate path of travel of the bolt 147 about the pivot bolt 144. It will now be apparent that the link 146, and therefore slidable plate 137, will be moved through onehalf of a reciprocatory cycle each time the gear 118 is rotated 90 degrees. It will be apparent that cup dispensing mechanism 20 may be easily adapted to use with but a single stack of cups by selecting the gear ratios to cause the gear 138 to rotate a full 360 degrees each time the gear 118 is rotated 90 degrees.

It will be seen now that when the handle 19 is actuated, the operating shaft 18 will cause the gear 118 to rotate gear 138 and simultaneously draw the rod 58 of the dash pot outwardly. A cup will drop through the chute 148 to the platform 23 and then the draw shaft finger 112 will become freed of one of the operating pins 114117 permitting the rod 58 to be moved inwardly after the cup has been dispensed. The ball valve 47 will therefore be opened only after the cup is in place on the platform 23.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made in the described and illustrated machine without departing from the invention and it is intended therefore, in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within I the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A timing device for actuating a movable lever comprising a dash pot having a piston; a rod secured to said piston and extending from said dash pot past said lever, said rod being provided with a plurality of gear teeth; a gear rotatably mounted adjacent said rod and meshing with said gear teeth; a cam secured to said gear for rotation therewith, said cam having an arcuate outer surface, said arcuate surface contacting and camming said lever in one direction as said gear is rotated in one direction as said rod is pulled outwardly from the dash pot, said cam contacting and camming said lever in the opposite direction as said rod moves inwardly to hold said lever in actuated position for a predetermined period of time as said rod moves inwardly.

2. A timing device for actuating a lever comprising a mechanical timer operatively associated with said actuating lever for contacting said actuating lever, said mechanical timer including a reciprocable rod mounted adjacent said actuating lever, said rod having a plurality of longitudinally spaced teeth, a gear rotatably mounted adjacent said rod and meshing with said gear teeth, a cam secured to said gear for rotation therewith, said cam 8 having an arcuate outer surface, said actuating lever having an end projecting into the path of movement of said cam, said arcuate surface contacting said lever and moving it from its rest position in one direction as said gear is rotated in one direction, said arcuate surface contacting said lever and moving it in the opposite direction as said gear is rotated in the opposite direction, means for predetermining the rate of movement of said timer rod in said opposite direction; and means for moving said timer rod a predetermined distance in said one direction.

3. The device of claim 2 in which said means for predetermining the rate of movement of said timer rod comprises a dash pot having a piston, said timer rod being secured to said piston.

4. A timing device for actuating a movable lever comprising a dash pot having a piston; a rod secured to said piston and extending from said dash pot past said lever, said rod being provided with a plurality of gear teeth; a gear rotatably mounted adjacent said rod and meshing with said gear teeth; a cam secured to said gear for retation therewith, said cam comprising two adjacent scctions, one being adjustable with respect to the other, said sections having aligned outer arcuate surfaces, the combined length of said arcuate surfaces being adjustable by adjustment of said movable section, said arcuate surface contacting and camming said lever in one direction as said gear is rotated in one direction as said rod is pulled outwardly from the dash pot, said cam contacting and camming said lever in the opposite direction as said rod moves inwardly to hold said lever in actuated position for a predetermined period of time as said rod moves inwardly.

5. In combination with an actuating lever for opening a valve, a mechanical timer operatively associated with said actuating lever for contacting said actuating lever and moving it to open the valve for a predetermined period of time, said mechanical timer including a reciprocable rod mounted adjacent said actuating lever, said rod having a plurality of longitudinally spaced teeth, a gear rotatably mounted adjacent said rod and meshing with said gear teeth, a cam secured to said gear for rotation therewith, said cam comprising two adjacent sections, one being adjustable with respect to the other, said sections having aligned outer arcuate surfaces, the combined length of said arcuate surfaces being adjustable by adjustment of said movable section, said actuating lever having an end projecting into the path of movement of said cam, said arcuate surface contacting said lever and moving it from its rest position in one direction as said gear is rotated in one direction, said arcuate surface contacting said lever and moving it in the opposite direction as said gear is rotated in the opposite direction, means for predetermining the rate of movement of said timer rod in said opposite direction; and means for moving said timer rod a predetermined distance in said one direction.

6. The structure of claim 5, said valve having a stem, and a leaf spring attached at one end to said lever and disposed at an angle thereto to engage and impart initial longitudinal force on said stem, said spring having its free end curved in the direction of said lever for engagement thereby as said lever is cammed in said one direction to exert a positive force on said stem through said spring to effect snap opening of said valve.

7. The device of claim 5 in which said means for predetermining the rate of movement of said timer rod comprises a dash pot having a piston, said timer rod being secured to said piston.

8. A timing device for actuating a movable lever comprising a dash pot having a piston; a rod secured to said piston and extending from said dash pot past said lever, said rod being provided with a plurality of gear teeth; a gear rotatably mounted adjacent said rod and meshing with said gear teeth; a cam secured to said gear for rotation therewith, said cam having an arcuate outer surface, said arcuate surface contacting and camming said lever in one direction from its rest position as said gear is rotated in one direction as said rod is pulled outwardly from the dash pot; and means biasing said lever in the opposite direction toward said rest position, said cam contacting and camming said lever in the opposite direction as said rod moves inwardly to hold said lever in actuated position for a predetermined period of time as said rod moves inwardly.

9. A delivery mechanism for vending beverage in cups comprising in combination with a delivery valve and cup dispensing mechanism, an operating shaft, a first gear freely mounted on said shaft having annularly spaced pins, a pawl afiixed to said shaft and biased into the path of said pins to rotate said gear in one direction, a ratchet holding said gear against opposite rotation, a draw shaft having a draw finger on one end thereof engageable successively by said pins to extend said draw shaft, a dash pot having a piston, a longitudinally toothed rod secured at one end to said piston and extending from said dash pot past said valve and having its opposite end connected to the opposite end of said draw shaft lever for operating said valve, a second gear meshing the teeth of said rod, a cam rotatable with said second gear for camming said lever in one direction as said rod is pulled outwardly by said draw shaft from said dash pot, said cam contacting and moving said lever in the opposite direction as said draw shaft reverses its movement to hold said lever in actuated position for a predetermined period of time, a plunger carried by said draw shaft for holding said gear against rotation in said one direction during extended position of said draw shaft and means actuated by said gear for operating said cup dispenser simultaneously with the actuation of said valve lever.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,794,641 Payson et al. Mar. 3, 1931 

